Turkey eyes offshore energy pact with Syria in 2026 amid East Med isolation Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has offered up details on a deal with Syria that could unsettle regional rivals in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Analysis France seeks to bolster Lebanon's army through UNIFIL coordination, donor conference France believes that the key to stabilizing the region is bolstering the Lebanese military so it can regain control over the south of the country. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Germany makes first deportation to Syria since 2011: What to know There are roughly 1 million Syrians in Germany, most of whom fled there during the country’s civil war. Syria
Italy pledges to maintain troops in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL withdrawal Italy plays a crucial role in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, with an Italian leading its command and the country contributing over 1,000 troops to the mission. Lebanon
Analysis Israel likely to strike Iran in 2026, European diplomats say By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Council of Europe initiates action against Turkey over Kavala detention The 47-member council has agreed to invoke a rarely used mechanism against Turkey over its failure to release philanthropist Osman Kavala. Turkey
Israel halts meetings as Belgium labels West Bank settlement products The Belgian decision to label West Bank settlement products was made as Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll is visiting the country and ahead of a scheduled meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes. Israel
Iraq to repatriate citizens stranded at Belarus border The Iraqi announcement came as the European Union said it would step up sanctions on the Belarusian government and some airlines. Iraq
Thousands of Iraqi, Syrian refugees shiver at Belarus-Poland border Iraqi Yazidis, Syrian Kurds and others are trapped in miserable conditions on the border, caught in a dispute between Belarus and the European Union. Iraq
Turkish Airlines denies fueling Belarus-Poland migration crisis After EU officials threatened to blacklist airlines facilitating travel for asylum-seekers amassing at the Poland-Belarus border, Turkish Airlines denied links to the bloc’s latest migration crisis. Turkey
UAE foreign minister visits Cyprus The UAE has grown closer to Cyprus on energy and defense issues. By Al-Monitor Staff
After critical EU report, Turkey’s bid to join bloc remains at a 'standstill' Citing serious democratic backsliding, the European Commission’s latest report on Turkey found few areas of progress in the nation’s long-stalled accession process as Brussels seeks avenues to improve relations. Turkey
Ankara summons 10 ambassadors over call to free Turkish philanthropist Turkey’s Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of the United States, Germany and France, among others, after they called for the release of Osman Kavala, a Turkish philanthropist jailed over four years without conviction. Turkey
Ankara calls on EU to help Afghanistan’s neighbors Turkey's president told German President Steinmeier that the EU member states should provide swift assistance to Afghanistan’s neighbors to cope with irregular migration. Turkey
Macron visits Erbil and Mosul, vows to stay the course against IS The French president visited the northern Iraqi city where an Islamic State ‘caliphate’ was declared in 2014, pledging to continue supporting Iraq in its fight against terrorism. Iraq
Raisi ready to support ‘any diplomatic plan’ that lifts sanctions on Iran Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister is ready to "send a message" to Iran in response to drone attack on Israeli-managed ship that killed two. Iran
Israel’s Lapid pumps European hands in Brussels Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's enthusiastic connecting in Brussels clearly indicates he intends to reboot Israel’s ties with the European Union. Israel
